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Mirbelia rubiifolia

heathy mirbelia

Fabaceae Eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–10

Overview

Mirbelia rubiifolia is a low evergreen shrub reaching 6-20 inches (15-50 cm) tall and spreading 12-32 inches (30-80 cm) wide, with a low, sprawling habit and wiry stems. Leaves are arranged in whorls of three, ovate to heart-shaped, 0.3-1 inch (8-25 mm) long, with a net of raised veins and a small point at the tip. Pea-shaped flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (1-1.5 cm) across open in the upper leaf axils, with pink to mauve-purple petals and a darker centre, mainly in spring and early summer. The flowers are followed by small inflated pods. As a legume it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through root nodules. Growth is slow to moderate, and plants are short-lived, often persisting 4-8 years. It grows in sandy, well-drained heath soils and regenerates from seed after fire. It declines in heavy clay and waterlogged ground.

Native Range

Native to eastern Australia, in Queensland and New South Wales. Grows in heath and dry sclerophyll woodland on sandstone-derived sandy soils, mainly in coastal and near-coastal districts below about 2,300 feet (700 m).

Suggested Uses

Used as a low groundcover or front-of-border plant in native and rockery gardens, spaced 16-24 inches (40-60 cm) apart. Suited to sandy banks and informal native plantings where a low, spreading shrub is wanted. Grows in containers of at least 2 gallons (8 L) with free-draining mix.

How to Identify

Recognized by leaves in whorls of three, ovate to heart-shaped, 0.3-1 inch (8-25 mm) long with a net of raised veins. Pink to mauve-purple pea flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (1-1.5 cm) across open in the upper leaf axils in spring. The whorled leaves and low, sprawling habit separate it from many upright Mirbelia spp. species.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'8"

Width/Spread1' - 2'8"

Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers in spring and early summer, mainly September to December in its native range. Individual flowers last about a week, and the plant carries scattered bloom over 6-10 weeks. Flowering is heaviest in open, sunny positions following good rain.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink to mauve-purple

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.0 - 6.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to light shade in sandy, sharply drained soil. Water moderately during establishment; established plants tolerate dry periods but decline in wet, heavy ground. As a nitrogen-fixing legume it grows on low-fertility soils without added fertilizer. It can be propagated from scarified seed or cuttings. Plants are short-lived, often replaced after 4-8 years. Root rots develop in poorly drained or summer-humid sites.

Pruning

Trim lightly after flowering to keep a compact, spreading shape; the wiry stems tolerate removal of up to one-third of the season growth. Bare old wood reshoots poorly, so trimming is kept to leafy stems. Remove dead stems as they appear.

Pruning Schedule

summer